Large capacity midwater trawl net



Nov. 17, 1964 F. J. LUKETA LARGE CAPACITY MIDwATER TRAwL NET 1 med Jan. s, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 igina INVENToR'. AeA/VK J. waff/4 Nov. 17, 1964 F. J. LUKETA LARGE CAPACITY MIDWATER TRAWL NET Original Filed Jan. I5, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FPA/.VK rf 6U/(E771 A rrOEA/EVJ Nov. 17, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,156,996

LARGE CAPACITY MIDWATER TRAWL NET Original Filed Jan. 5. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 21' N MY.

h v f up INVENTUR.

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Nov. 17, 1964 F. J. LUKETA 3,156,996

LARGE CAPACITY MIDWATER TRAWL NET Original Filed Jan. 5. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. FPA/Vl( J. UA/ETA A r roms/5K5 Nov. 17, 1964 F. J. LUKETA LARGE CAPACITY MIDWATER TRAwr. NET

Original Filed Jan. 3. 1961 `5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. FRA/VK J. uA/7A A Trae/v6 YS United States Patent O 3 155,996 LARGE CAPACITY iMIDWATER TRAWL NET Franli I. ulreta, 5567 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, Wash. Continuation of application Ser. No. 80,170, lIan. 3, 1961. rEhis application Sept. 30, i963, Ser. No. 313,724 22 Claims. (Cl. 43-9) This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 80,170, entitled Large Capacity Midwater Trawl Net, and iiled January 3, i961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to gear used in trawling, especially a net, and while certain principles and structures herein set forth are applicable either to bottom trawling gear or to midwater trawling gear, the invention is illustrated in conjunction with and will be described as applied in midwater trawling. No restriction is intended thereby, insofar as the invention is applicable to either type of gear.

Although in certain copending applications, not neces` sary to refer to speciiically, I have disclosed midwater and bottom trawling gear, and appurtenances used therewith, these prior disclosures pertained primarily to gear which can be handled by existing U.S. trawlers of small size and maimed by small crews using present-day power installations and winch drums. Such existing trawlers are far smaller than certain existing foreign trawlers, and can only compete with the latter by employing more etlicient gear, more easily handled by their crews, such as I have disclosed in my various copending applications. lf it is desired not only to compete with, but to far outstrip foreign competitors, it is necessary to employ larger trawlers and even more eiiicient gear, of large capacity. It is to this general object that this invention is addressed.

In particular, and among other objects, it is my object to provide a net capable of receiving in excess or" one hundred tons of ish in a single haul, with the gear so connected to and arranged with respect to the meshes that the latter will successfully withstand the strains of trawling and particularly of hauling such a load aboard by what is known as the drum trawling method, wherein net curtains are reeled upon drums and the entire codend and its load are hauled aboard by haul-in lines, in one virtually continuous operation over the stern ot the trawler, rather than by successive laborious and timeconsuming strapping or splitting operations.

Further, it is an object to insure that the entrance to the codend is maintained open at all times for entrance of iish to the extent of its full capacity, yet exit of ish is thoroughly blocked.

Since the net may at times sweep in fish in excess of the capacity of the codend, such excess gathering in the funnel where is would impede the hauling in operation, it is a further object to provide meansvto spill the excess automatically and so to speed up the hauling and emptying operations, and with little likelihood of injury to the spilled iish or of loss of iish trapped in the codend.

With particular reference to midwater trawling, it is an object to provide curtains diverging forwardly from the opposite sides of the funnel, and means to control and shape the same so that they belly markedly outwardly along their longitudinal center lines, relative to their inwardly drawn top and bottom curtain lines, to the end that iish which encounter these curtains instinctively follow them rearwardly and can not pass above nor below the respective curtain lines, and so are led to the funnel and to the entrance to the codend, and can not escape despite the fact that throughout the long length of and between the two curtains there is no top or bottom mesh closure.

It is also an object to concentrate stress only within net panels of a type and in portions of the net wherein ICC the mesh is of twine size and orientation adequate to resist strain or rupture, despite the expected heavy loads, and to leave other mesh largely unstressed, and as freely open and of as light twine size as possible, whereby to reduce drag of the net to a minimum.

With such objects in mind, and others as will appear as this specification proceeds, this invention concerns a trawl net, primarily (but not exclusively in all respects) for midwater trawling, as shown in the accompanying drawings in a presently preferred form, and as will be described herein in detail, and claimed in the appended claims.

FIGURE l is an isometric View, in three disconnected sections, of midwater trawling gear, incorporating the principles of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view transversely of the codend, at the line 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a similar cross-sectional View, illustrating the filled codend in the operation of being hauled aboard.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged isometric View, broken away in part, and illustrating details within part of the funnel.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of one of the two suspenders used at the sides of the net, for taking the strain of the codend, and FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional View at one side of the net, showing the suspender incorporated therein.

FIGURE 7A is a plan view, partly broken away, of a net complete (with one curtain or wing omitted which is a duplicate of the curtain shown) except for the leading end and door of its curtain, and FIGURE 7B is a plan View of such leading end and door.

FIGURE 8A is a side elevational View of the net shown in FIGURE 7A, and FIGURE 8B is a side elevational View of what is shown in FIGURE 7B.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational View of the after end of the funnel and forward end of the codend, partly broken away to show the restrictive trap at the entrance to the codend.

FIGURE l0 is a detail of a mesh having a double selvage edge, such as should be used at certain locations in this net.

FIGURE ll is an isometric view of a connector or anchorage at the forward end of a suspender, for the meshes thereof and for a sweep line.

FIGURE l2 is a sectional view, transversely of the direction of advance, through a curtain bellied according to the principles of this invention, and FIGURE 13 is a plan View of a short length thereof.

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE l2, and FIGURE 15 a View similar to FIGURE 13, illustrating a substantially unbellied curtain and the difference in functioning between the same and the bellied curtain of this mvention.

It should be remembered that the net of this invention is intended to haul over the stern of a trawler in one lift scores of tons or even a hundred tons or more of fish in a single haul. Such nets must be of relative light twine, to minimize drag, and such loads can only be handled by nets which are especially designed to assume the loads engendered in hauling, yet at the same time to leave so much of the mesh as is transverse to the direction of advance open and unstressed to the highest degree possible, to minimize water drag. Such nets would necessarily spread widely to sweep as large an area as possible, and avoidance of drag in the funnel and particularly in the curtains that diverge forwardly from the net proper is especially desirable. Also, such nets can only be hauled successfully by hauling them in a substantially continuous operation, and by power means, over the stern, winding curtains, etc., onto a drum on deck after 71; 72, respectively.

Verns the vertical height of each curtain.

securing and disconnecting the doors; this operation is lmown as drum trawling. If the curtains must assume the load of hauling the codend, their mesh twine must be much larger, and their mesh squares much smaller, than would otherwise be required, and their drag would lbe great. This is undesirable, and Vis avoided in the net of this Vinvention'by relieving the curtains of such loads, applying them rather to mesh which must be heavier to assume the loads of the catch and of dragging the net, and to llines coordinated with such heavy mesh.

Thenet includes an elongated codend 9 of heavy mesh open at its forward end, and closed during use by a releasable purse 'line 9) or the like. A non-collapsible expansion ring 91 framesy the open forward end thereof and insures that the entrance is always open. A constrictive trap 92, funnel-like in shape and having a constrictiverear opening, deiined for example by an elastic constrictor 93, extends aft from the expansion ring 9i into the codend, By its constriction it blocks exit of iish, and its expansive ability enables them to enter. For purposes which will appear later it is preferred that the round of the codend (see 9a in FIGURE 2) be reduced by joining the top and bottom of the codend throughout much of its length at 9b, to leave a somewhat attened bag or to form in effect two joined codends side by side.

Forward of the codend extends the funnel, generally indicatedat S. lt spreads laterally in the forward direction, and vertically, and its mesh should be of such twine size, of panels so patterned, and with its mesh so oriented, as to produce a minimum of water drag. As will shortly appear, the strain of the net and its load is not imposed upon the funnel S, and the only stress to which it is Vsubjected is that of keeping it distended and pulling it through the water in opposition to its inherent drag. The manner of'cutting the mesh panel patterns in all 'parts of the net, and of orienting the mesh, constitutes the subject-matter of a companion application, tiled herewith, entitled to Serial No. 80,056, tiled January 3, 1961, now abandoned, and will not be described here in detail. The after part of funnel 8 is connected along its sides to Suspenders 1, and the latter in efect form part of the funnel; all merge aft towards the expansion ringl, to which they are joined.

Ahead of the funnel 8 are the curtains 7. These diverge forwardly from the forward edge of the sides of the funnel, beingjoined thereto along the lacing lines 7 8. The curtains are of small twine size, for minimum drag. Their function is to spread widely so as to sweep a large are-a, and to guide sh encountered towards and into the funnel. In midwater trawling the curtains are secured at top and bottom edges to upper and lower curtain lines Each such line is joined to its counterpart at the opposite side of the net by bosom lines 81, S2. In order to maintain these curtain lines spaced vertically by appreciable distances they are connested to upper and lower points of anchorage 73, '74 to a door 6 through upper and lower door leg lines 75, 76, which are disconnectible at 77a and 7713 therefrom but during trawling constitute extensions of the upper and lower curtain lines 7l, 72, respectively. The door -is of appreciable height (iifteen to sixty feet, depending on the towing power available and the species of iish sought) and as the upper curtain line '7l is buoyed up by planing floats 73 and the lower curtain line may be held down by weights or depressing paravanes 79 (as also their connected bosom lines .31, S2 across the upper and lower bosoms of the tunnel), it is clear that the distance between points of anchorage 73 and 74 at the door gov- Each door is hauled forward by the towing warp Gti.

Since the vertical height of the curtain lines is thus determined by the doors, by making the interposed curtain netting of substantially greater overall width, and by securing their edges to the two curtain lines, each curtain is caused to belly out by the minimal water drag upon their meshes, in the manner shown in FGURES 1, '7A

and 7B, and more especially in FIGURES 12 and 13. If their netting width (that is, the height of the curtain when in use) were nearly equal to the vertical spacing between upper and lower curtain lines '71, 72, as is the curtain 7a in FIGURES 14 and l5, the curtain could not lbelly appreciably. Fish upon encounteringV an obstacle such as a curtain seek to escape above or below it, as they are shown doing in FGURES 14 and 15. When they encounter the bellied curtain 7 which is a-distinctive feature of this invention, they are eifectively prevented from doing this (as shown in FIGURES l2 and 13) because in order for the sh to escape the curtain moving in the direction of M at lfour to six knots, vthey must lmake vertically a 96 change of course E and atthe same time swim rapidly upwardly or downwardly and this Vthey will rarely do; instead, they will `follow the central area of the bellied curtain and this will lead them into entrapnient in the codend 9.

It has been said that the curtains 7 take none lof the stress of towing or hauling on board over the stern of the loaded codend, nor do the curtain lines 71, 72. Rather, a sweep line 50, disconnectible at 51 from a middle leg line 52 anchored to a midpoint of door -6, extends in effect kfrom the door to the codend, although since it is necessary to distribute the vpull of the single sweep line 50 Vequally to the many meshes about the codend, there is a suspender 1l of special nature, constituting a further feature of this invention, interposed between each sweep line andthe forward end of the codend; see FlGURES 4 and 5. Each suspender 1 is of mesh, of heavy twine size, and with yits mesh so oriented as to afford maximum strength to resist a longitudinal pull. At its forward end all meshes are yconcentrated at a connector 2; these forward ends are looped about a connector ring 20, secured by'cap screws 21 to the connector proper; see FGURE 1l. The mesh so looped should be a double selvage edge 10 (see FIGURE V10), for a single selvage edge would cut the strength ofthe suspender 1 in half.

The suspender 1 is a rectangular panel if laid hat, but since it spreads aft from the connector 2 it assumes in use the shape shown in 'FIGURE 5. The side walls of the funnel 8, just ahead of the expansion ring 91, are in effect slit Vlengthwise and Vdiverge upwardly and down'- wardly along the .lineof lacings $3,844, (FlGl ALE 4). The suspender 1 completes the interrupted side walls of the funnel, being secured along its edges to the funnel webbingproper. The suspender being somewhat longer than the lacings 83,84, its 'forwardportion is turned, in effect,

outside inwardly, to define a short integral sleeve or cone 11 wherein the meshes are closely concentrated. The edges of this sleeve are joined along the line 12; see FIGURES 4 and 5; its `forward end lies within .and spaced somewhat from the side wall .of the funnel, and is the double selvage edge portion that connects to the connector 2. Riblines 13 extend lengthwise of the suspender to limit lateral tears or rips.

If the sweep lines "50 were permitted to eXtend in straight lines from the codend .9 or its expansion ring 91 (by way of the Suspenders 1) to the doors 6, they would distend the funnel 8 laterally, and so would narrow the funnel vertically. vSuch distortion would reduce the efciency of the net, perhaps even tothe extent of closing the funnels entrance. To prevent this the line of pull from door to codend is angled somewhat at the connector 2,`by a restrictor line 22 which joins the connectors at oppositesides, and is of a'length to hold each inwardly somewhat from the side walls of the funnel, leaving the funnel free to distend vertically as well aslaterally to a fully open condition.

The sweep lines are buoyedup by a few buoys 54 (that are quickly detachable duringhaulingin), wherefore the sweep lines 5t) can not sag and distort the proper towed configuration of the net. The after ends of the Suspenders could be secured to the mesh of the forward end of the codend, but preferably are joined to the expansion ring 91, to which also is joined the forward end of the codend.

Reference has been made above to the necessity of using a double selvage edge for mesh where it connects to ring at the forward end of the suspender. At the after edge of the Suspenders where they join the expansion ring 91, a double selvage edge is also required. The same is true of the forward edge of the codend netting, where it joins the expansion ring. Without double selvaging at these points the load bearing capacity of the net would be cut exactly in half. The reason for this will become apparent by studying FIGURES l() and ll. Since the selvage meshes are looped freely around the ring 20 and not individually knotted to it (a similar design prevails at the expansion ring) the twine 10a and 10b must support twine 10c and 10d twine for twine at the midway point of the selvage looped around the ring and therefore a single selvage would only provide half the required strength.

It will be observed-see in particular FIGURE 4-that the Suspenders l, at their after ends, constitute the entire round of the funnel, and forward thereof constitute in effect the side walls of the funnel, yet are the sole means to transmit to the codend 9 the pull of the towing warps 60 through the sweep line 50. The curtain lines 71, 72

are not highly stressed, nor are the meshes of the funnel 8, notwithstanding that the Suspenders are in effect the side walls of the after part of the funnel. The funnels top and bottom afteredges need not come to a point at the expansion ring 91, as shown, but might extend somewhat about the latter. The arrangement is always such that the suspender is stressed and the funnel is not, to any material degree. This is achieved by regulating the overall length from the door of sweep line Sli and suspender 1 to the expansion ring 91, relative to the overall length from the door of curtain lines 7l, '72 and the funnel 8 to the same expansion ring, the latter defining the forward end of the codend.

In use the doors 6 are towed by the towing warps 60,

and are remotely maintained, by means not necessary to explain here, at any desired depth. The curtains 7 are drawn ahead by the curtain lines 71, 72, and while their wide open and light twine mesh produces but little drag, there is enough to belly them. The doors, veering outwardly, spread the curtains laterally apart. The codend is not drawn ahead by the curtain lines, for the only other function of the latter is to maintain the upper and lower portions of the funnel reasonably stretched and apart vertically, through the bosom lines S1, 82. Rather, the entire pull of the codend is assumed by the sweep lines Sti through the connectors 2 and Suspenders I. This pull is a very heavy one when the lled codend is hauled up the inclined stern ramp of the trawler, but is well distributed and equalized through the orientation and connections of the mesh, and the pull on the Suspenders is not imposed upon the funnels side walls, but through the aluminum expansion ring 91 to a codend that is designed to sustain such a load. It can be said here that without the expansion ring the opening of the mouth of the codend in a net of this design would be inadequate, in fact, almost closed due to the tensions set up.

Fish intercepted by the bellied curtains are guided into the funnel 8 and through the trap 92 into the codend, whence they may not escape. When the codend is sufl`.- ciently filled the net is hauled to the trawler by the towing warps ou, and the doors are secured; lazy lines 55 and 56 (the former connected to sweep line 5t? to assume the principal load and the latter connected by a bridle 57 to curtain lines 7l and 72 to take up their slack) are disconnected from anchorages at the door (not shown) which keeps them slack during trawling, and are connected intermediate haulain lines (not shown). and the sweep line and the curtain, respectively, and hauling in is completed by winding in one continuous movement up over the stern ramp of a trawler these lines,

curtains, etc., on drums on deck. The buoys 54, on the sweep lines 50, as they come aboard are disconnected to avoid crushing them as the now very heavily stressed sweep lines 50 are reeled upon their drums. Finally the codend is hauled on deck. FIGURE 3 shows the flattened codend (because of the central constriction at 9b) coming aboard over a horizontal guide 3 and between two upright guides 31. If it were not so constricted it would be too large to pass between the guides 3l, and when fully iilled would hang up and delay the hauling. With the codend on deck its purse line 9i! is released, and the catch spilled out, and disposed of. The net is ready immediately to be reset. The codend 9a would be eighteen to twenty feet in diameter when lilled with fish, if in a single tube, and be too bulky to handle efficiently on deck even if it could be hauled up the ramp or chute easily. So the top and bottom of the tube is joined together to form two tubes, thus reducing the cross-sectional capacity to approximately one-half yet not weakening at the much needed longitudinal strength of the codend-there being the same number of total meshes around as before. A single tube codend could be provided with the same cross-sectional area as 9c and 9d combined but then it would be of lesser circumferential size and longitudinal tensile strength and therefore the very large load bearing capacity needed for hauling the loaded codend up an inclined ramp would be considerably reduced.

Towing the unloaded or loaded codend in the sea does not require very great longitudinal tensile strength of the codend and its supporting Suspenders but suspending the codend in the manner of this invention relieves the funnel and curtain webbing of much `tension and they can therefore be made of light twine and very importantly, also, their meshes are allowed to be wide open. These two drag-decreasing factors permit a very desirable increased towing speed or longer and/or deeper curtains with the same speed, and, therefore, considerably more lish catching capability. It can be said here that the huge load capacity of this net is attained by design and not by drag inducing and costly, greatly increased twine size.

It will be evident that the codend and Suspenders, in particular, are well adapted to use in a bottom trawl net. The flattened shape of the codend discourages rolling over laterally on a sloping bottom. The bellied curtains are not desirable therein, but in the respects indicated and others the present invention is usable in other than a midwater trawling system.

If, instead of merely trapping a capacity haul of lish, or less, all in the codend, an excess is trapped in the funnel, these will hinder and slow up the hauling in operation, for it would be necessary to remove them by a time consuming splitting technique before the funnel could pass through the stern chute (FIGURE 3) of the trawler, and the codend brought on deck. It is better to provide for their automatic escape and not, otherwise, greatly slow up the hauling in process. A spill chute 4 and a flap il of sheet rubber or the like are provided at the bottom of the funnel, just ahead of the expansion ring 91 that marks the entrance to the codend. This spill chute, being somewhat flexible and pleated, tends normally to close an opening in this portion of the funnels bottom, and Water drag reaction on the underlying ap 4t) assists in holding it closed. Should there be an excess of fish in the funnel,

" during hauling in, the pressure of the excess lish will open the spill chute,` and the excess will spill back into the sea unharmed. This removes the impediment to hauling in, and the operation proceeds uninterruptedly.

I claim as my invention:

Vl. Midwater trawling gear comprising a codend open at its forward end and closed at its after end, a funnel of netting diverging forwardly from the open forward end of the codend, and closed at its top and bottom, two curtains forming forwardly diverging continuations of the funnels side walls, two Suspenders of netting within the aisee-sae lfunnel havingitheir meshes at their after ends distributed .aboutthe'opposite sidesof the open forward end of the codend, and extendingvthence forwardly to opposite points lof connection where their meshes are concentrated, spaced finwardly of thefunnel walls, each suspender having its meshes'of a twine size and oriented to assume the strain rofthe'codend and its load, a curtain line secured along :the uppera'nd lower edges, respectively, of each curtain, thecurtain being of aheight to belly rearwardly by water reaction, a sweepline extending forwardly from the point of connection at the-forward end of each suspender, inside the -bellied curtains, anda door preceding each curtain, whereto the curtain lines are anchored at vertically spaced pointsjtomaintain them separated, each sweep line be- `ing anchored atits forward end to its door intermediate fthe anchorages of thecurtain lines.

r2. Midwater trawling gear as in claim l, including a restrictor line interconnectingthe points of connection at the 'forwardendsof the vopposite Suspenders, to retain vthem spaced inwardly from the funnel walls.

3. Aftrawl net comprising a codend open at its forward -end and'clo'sedduring use at'its after end, a funnel of .netting diverging forwardly from the open forward end of the codend, ytwoV curtains `forming laterally and forwardly vdiverging continuations of the funnels rside walls, two

suspenders of netting withinfthe funnel having their after end meshes distributed about the opposite lsides of the open forward end ofthe codend, and extending thence `forwardly-to points'of connection at opposite sides, spaced inwardly from the funnel walls, where their respective ymeshes are concentrated, each suspender having its meshes of a twine size and oriented to assume the strain of the codend and its-load,'rneans attached to the yforward end of the respectivecurtains, to spread them laterally and to drag them forwardly, land a line connected to the 'concentrated forward end of each suspender, and extend- Ling'thence forwardly, independentlyof the curtains, to

drag i the codend forwardly.

4. Midwater-trawling 'gear as in claim 3, including an l`expansion'ring encircling and holding open the forward open end of the codend.

5. yMidwater trawling gear comprising an elongated .codend of mesh open in'use only at its vforward end,

curtains of netting diverging'forwardly from the opposite sides-of saidcodend, curtain lines along top and bottom edges of'said curtains, wheretothe curtains are attached, vmeans to'hold saidtop and bottom curtain lines spaced vertically throughout theirilengths, the curtains being of a vertical extent'materially in excess of the'spacing between -their curtain lines, whereby the curtains belly rearwardly lintermediate the curtain'lines as they are dragged forwardly.

6. Midwatertrawling gear as in claim 5, including a doortothe'upper and lower Vportions whereof the top andbottom-curtain lines are'anchored, respectively, said doors being of a shape that when drawn through the water theyspread the curtains' apart vat their forward ends.

7. Midwater trawling gear as in'claim 5, including a forwardly opening funnel of netting constituting a forwardlydivergentpart of the codend, whereto the curtains are'joined at their after ends, and a bosom line defining `the upper and the lower edge of said funnel, the respective Vcurtain lines at opposite sides being joined to said upper and'lower bosom'lines.

SJMdwater trawling gear as in claim'S, including vfurther a suspender of netting concentrated at a single door to the upper and lower portions whereof the top and `bottom curtain lines respectively at each side are anchored, a suspender ofnetting concentrated at a single corresponding side of such open end, and a sweep'lineextendingforwardly from each such point to a point-on the corresponding door intermediate 'the anchorages of vthe upper and lower'curtain lines, to extend within and spaced from the belly of the curtain, the doorsbeing of a shape and so oriented that when ldrawn `through the water they diverge and spread the .curtains apart attheir `forward ends.

l0. A trawl net comprising an elongated codend of netting closed atits after end and open atrits forward end, a funnel'of netting extending forwardly from and joined to the'open end of said codend,'and iniusedi-verging thence laterally, the opposite side walls of said funnel being separated, a suspender of netting directed in use forwardly of and at each side ofthe open forward end ofthe codend, and joined thereto along the rear end of the Suspenders, each suspender converging thence forwardly yto a single point at each side of the funnel, a connector at each such point whereto the suspender isconnected, and-having means'for connection-of a sweep line, -the longitudinal edges of each suspender being joined tothe separated side walls at the corresponding Vside of the funnel, but the suspender beingcf such length relativetothe vfunnel that the stress of dragging the net is concentrated inthe Suspenders, and the funnel is relieved therefrom.

ll. A trawl net as in claim l0, wherein the line of juncture between the separated side edges of the funnel and the suspender-extends from a `point aft ofthe connector to the open end of the Jcodend, the opposite edges of the suspender being joined ahead of suchpoint, and

the connectorbeing located within the funnel.

12. A trawl net ycomprising a codend `open at its forward end and closed during use at its after end, netting curtains `diverging forwardly at `each side -ahead of the codend, a funnel of netting connecting the curtains and leading from their after ends to the open forward end of the codend, two Suspenders of netting vwithin the funnel extending Vforwardly from anddistributed about-the 'opposite sidesof the open forwarde'nd of the codend, to a point of connection spaced inwardly .of the funnel wall, a sweep line secured to the forward end of eachsuspender at such pointof connection, and extendingforwardlyinside the funnel and curtains to Vassume the lstrain'of the codend and its load, and two vertically spaced curtain lines secured along the upper and lower edgesv of `each curtain, to maintain such edges separated.

13. Midwater trawling gear as'in claim A12, including leg lines extending between the door andthe-forward end of each of the upper and lower curtain lines and the sweep line, and arranged for disconnection vfrom each such line, and two lazy lines, one extending from the sweep line forwardly and the other bridled to the two curtain lines and extending forwardly, and disconnectible anchorages adjacent theV door forthe'forwardend ofY each lazy line, the length of'thelazy lines relativeto the leg ines being such that the lazy lines are unstressed during trawling.

14. Trawling gear comprising a codend open at its forward end and closed at its after end, a'funnel of netting of light twine size diverging forwardly from the open Vforward end of the codend, and closed at its top and bottom, tension means extending `forwardly from the funnel to maintain it distended but minimally stressed, two `suspenders of netting of heavy twine size extending from'the entrance to the codend forwardly within the funnel at the respective `sides of the latter, each suspender being distributed at its after end aboutits side of theopen forward end of the codend, and at its forward end converging to a common point of connection for all its meshes, and two sweep lines connected to the respective suspenders at such points of connection, and extending thence forwardly and diverging laterally, toV assume substantially Q the entire stress of the Suspenders and through the latter the drag of the codend.

l5. Trawling gear as in claim 14, including a restrictor line interconnecting the two points of connection at opposite sides of the net, and of a length to hold these points of connection spaced inwardly of the funnel.

16. Trawling gear as in claim 14, wherein side edges of the funnels top and bottom respectively converege aft towards the codends open forward end, the Suspenders being joined along their longitudinal edges to the side edges of the funnels top and bottom to complete closure of the funnel, but the Suspenders being of such length relative to the joined edges of the funnel as to assume substantially the entire stress of the codend.

17. Trawling gear as in claim 14, including a connec tor at each point of connection, whereto the respective sweep lines are connected, each suspender having a double selvage edge across its forward edge, and the connector having a ring threaded through the double selvage loops.

18. Trawling gear as in claim 14, including an open expansion ring dening the open forward end of the codend, the codend being of netting of heavy twine size, each suspender and the mesh of the forward end of the codend being formed with double selvage edges, and each such latter double selvage edge being looped onto said expansion ring.

19. A trawl net comprising a codend open at its forward end and closed during use at its after end, a funnel diverging forwardly from such open forward end, two longitudinally directed Suspenders at each side each spread at its after end about its side of the open forward end of the codend and converging forwardly to a single point of connection, and a non-collapsible expansion ring dening the open forward end of the codend, whereto the codend, funnel and Suspenders are secured.

20. A trawl net as in claim 14, including a trap extending after within the codend from said expansion ring, and arranged to constrict its after end.

21. A trawl net comprising a codend open at its forward end and closed during use at its after end, a funnel of mesh diverging forwardly from such open forward end, means to draw the funnel forwardly by its forward end, means at each side independent of said last-mentioned means and extending forwardly from the codend, to assume directly the drag of the codend during use, each such drag-assuming means including a line for engagement with a towing means and a suspender of mesh to which said line is connected, extending aft of the funnel to a connection with the codend for transmitting towing forces to the codend independently of the funnel and the means to draw Ithe same forwardly, and without tensioning the mesh of the funnel.

22. Tr-awling gear comprising a net proper including a codend of mesh open at its forward end and closed at its after end, curtains of light mesh diverging forwardly, in use, from the opposite sides of the net, Suspenders having their after ends distributed about the secured to the open forward end of the codend, and extending thence forwardly to points of connection where their meshes are concentrated, the Suspenders having their mesh of a twine size and oriented to assume collectively the strain of the codend and its load, a sweep line extending forwardly and outwardly from each point of connection at the forward end of a suspender to transmit the load of the net proper and its load, curtain lines also extending :forwardly and outwardly from opposite sides of the net, from which said curtains are supported, and a door preceding each curtain, the sweep lines being secured to the respective doors in a manner to assume substantially the entire drag of the codend and its load, and the curtain lines being also secured to the respective doors in a manner to assume substantially the drag of the curtains alone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 876,638 Harrington Jan. 14, 1908 1,692,830 Hansen et al Nov. 27, 1928 2,244,907 Enright June 10, 1941 2,816,385 Luketa Dec. 17, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,242 Australia Aug. 13, 1931 628,148 France June 2l, 1927 294,363 Germany Oct. 4, 1916 9,106 Great Britain 1912 405,405 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1934 

22. TRAWLING GEAR COMPRISING A NET PROPER INCLUDING A CODEND OF MESH OPEN AT ITS FORWARD END AND CLOSED AT ITS AFTER END, CURTAINS OF LIGHT MESH DIVERGING FORWARDLY, IN USE, FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE NET, SUSPENDERS HAVING THEIR AFTER ENDS DISTRIBUTED ABOUT THE SECURED TO THE OPEN FORWARD END OF THE CODEND, AND EXTENDING THENCE FORWARDLY TO POINTS OF CONNECTION WHERE THEIR MESHES ARE CONCENTRATED, THE SUSPENDERS HAVING THEIR MESH OF A TWINE SIZE AND ORIENTED TO ASSUME COLLECTIVELY THE STRAIN OF THE CODEND AND ITS LOAD, A SWEEP LINE EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM EACH POINT OF CONNECTION AT THE FORWARD END OF A SUSPENDER TO TRANSMIT THE LOAD OF THE NET PROPER AND ITS LOAD, CURTAIN LINES ALSO EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE NET, FROM WHICH SAID CURTAINS ARE SUPPORTED, AND A DOOR PRECEDING EACH CURTAIN, THE SWEEP LINES BEING SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVE DOORS IN A MANNER TO ASSUME SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE DRAG OF THE CODEND AND ITS LOAD, AND THE CURTAINS LINES BEING ALSO SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVE DOORS IN A MANNER TO ASSUME SUBSTANTIALLY THE DRAG OF THE CURTAINS ALONE. 